Euroa community rallies for Sloan family

Euroa's Jessie Sloan has a rare hip condition that saw him undergo surgery recently. The community is raising funds for a wheelchair for Jessie.

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It is a long road ahead for the Sloan family.

Son Jessie Sloan has the little-understood condition avascular necrosis femoral head, also known as ‘‘old man hip’’.

Usually presenting in the teenage years, family friend Ebony Bell said Jessie, 7, was the youngest patient the Royal Children’s Hospital had seen with the condition.

‘‘Two weeks ago Jessie had a fall at school and broke his already fragile hip,’’ Ms Bell said.

‘‘(He) has undergone surgery to have it corrected and will have to undergo more preventative surgery on his other hip and eventually will have hip replacements.’’

Ms Bell created a Go Fund Me page for the Euroa Primary School student, who will need a wheelchair to help with his recovery.

‘‘As you could imagine this sudden accident has put financial strain on his single mother Jacinta, with unexpected time off work, parking, travel and accommodation, so she can be by his side offering comfort,’’ Ms Bell said.

Ms Bell said the home would also need renovations with Jessie back at home and they would need extra equipment to aid his recovery, including a $4000 wheelchair.

‘‘Jessie is now home and the house will be altered to meet his needs, but he is in much higher spirits in his own surrounds,’’ she said.

The Euroa community has rallied behind the brave little boy, already raising almost $2000 of the $8000 target.

‘‘The emotional strain of watching a child suffer is hard, but financial hardship on top of that can be crippling,’’ Ms Bell said.

‘‘If you can spare even $5 it will all add up and help ease the burden on this family and help get this smiling boy home and back at school where he is happy and missed.’’

Ms Bell thanked Longwood Football Netball Club for supporting Jessie and the family.

‘‘Thanks also to Euroa Primary School, especially principal Ross Davis, Miss White and all Jessie’s classmates in 2/3W, for their love and support; Jessie cannot wait to be back with you all.

‘‘And thanks to the community for all of their donations and well wishes; it has all been felt and appreciated.’’

To donate and help cover Jessie’s medical expenses visit www.gofundme.com/lets-bring-jessie-home